Game-cards.



- No. 706,603. Patented Aug. 12, 1902. a. a SHARP.

GAME CARDS.

(Applicltion filed Kay 29, 1901.)

(No Model.)

gnwntoz- 1 rm: NORRIS Pnzas ca. Pam-ammo" WASHINGYON. n c

Patented Aug. l2; I902 B. H. SHARP. GAME CARDS. (Application filed May 29, 1901,

2 Shoets-$heat 2.

(No Model.)

fjv wontoz 43/710 W576,

rm; Nona-s pzrzns ca, PHoru-umm WASHINGTON, u

UNITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BIRD H. SHARP, OF VICTORIA, TEXAS.

GAME-CARDS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 706,603, dated .August 12, 190.2. Application filed May 29, 1901. Serial No. 62,430. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BIRD H. SHARP,a citizen of the United States, residing at Victoria, in

the county of Victoria and State of Texas,have

. and whereby suitable games may be played.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists of a deck of novel cards, such as hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

A full pack comprising my invention consists of forty-eight cards arranged in'three suits, representing the United States, Spain, and Cuba, respectively. Each suit contains ten cards numbered from 1 to 10 and having the ensign of one of the above countries thereon. By means of these ensigns it can be readily determined to which suit the cards belong. Three other cards are arranged in each suit, and in addition to the ensigns displayed thereon they contain representatives of officers of three degrees of rank, one being shown upon each card. These officers are preferably prominent personages, and the rank of each is indicated in the corner of the card. The United States and the Spain suits are each completed by three cards bearing representatives of well-known war vessels and are distinguished from each other by means of ensigns, as are the other cards of the pack. The Cuban suit is completed by three cards, each bearing a representation of one of three well-known Cuban harbors or fortresses.

It will be seen from the foregoing that each suit comprises sixteen cards and that the three suits are distinguished from each other principally by the ensigns of the three countries represented.

The representatives upon the six higher cards of each suit are preferably duplicated and arranged so as to be read from either end of the cards.

The cards representing the vessels are nu 1nbered from 1 to 3 in each suit.

in time of war. is as follows: The card representing a genfiags forthe three countries, and Fig. 8 is a view of one of the marine cards of the suit Which does not contain the vessels.

This pack of cards being composed of three suits or denominations have an unequal value in playing, as follows, namely: The United States and Spain cards are of equal value naturally, though one suit being made trumpcards gives it predominance over the other, while the other suit is given precedence at any and all times over the third or Cuban suit,excepting ofiicers of said suit, which cards may be played with preference to the opposing suit (to trumps) all but the officers of opposing suit, though they are to follow even the flag cards of trump suit. The third or Cuban suit is never used as trump-cards, but only in-like manner to an allied nation From lowest to highest card eral is the highest card in the pack, next comes the one representing the colonel, next captain, next the marine cards, number 1 being the highest, number 2 the second, number 3 the third. Then comes the flag cards as numbered from 10 to 1, 10 being the highest. The marine cards are Worth ,asmuch for scoring for game as are the officers, although they are of lower degree relatively.

This pack being composed of forty-eight cards and made up of three suits, each suit represented'by sixteen cards, has, according to the value placed on the face-cards, a total (in scoring for game) of one hundred and eighty. The cards are valued as follows, viz: The general has a counting value of fifteen, colonel ten, and captain five. The, marine representatives are as follows: No. 1 has a counting value of fifteen, No. 2 ten,'and No. 3 five. The flag cards have no intrinsic value, except for sake of play, which may be governed by the discretion of player.

One being selected as first dealer in any satisfactory manner takes the cards and shuffies well, after which they are offered to the first player to the right to be cut, which is done by taking not less than five cards from top to be placed on bottom of deck. This being done, dealing proceeds by commencing at left and dealing three cards to each player. This being repeated twice gives each player nine cards. The next thingin order is to pitch a trump, which is done by each player bidding for trump, that privilege being given to highest bidder. The bidding is governed by the counting value of bidders hand. However, if the bidder holds as much as two high cards of either of the suits that may be made trumps he can affordto bid to the very utmost of his counting-hand. The trump is set or made known by proposing to defend Cuba with the United States or Spain cards, as the case may.

be. For example, you propose the defense of Cuba with Spain, thereby making the Spain cards the trump, which puts the Cuban officers trump-cards with Spain, though below even the lowest Spanish card.

However, they retain their counting value in allcases. In the above example the Cuban officers dominate over the United States cards all but the United States officers, which are always superior to any Cuban card, and even all the rest of the United States cards predominate over the Cuban cards, all but the officers. After the trump is made known the first player (the one who set the trump) may start the game by playing any card he chooses, each player following suit until all have played, the highest card being entitled to the trick. The one taking the trick is put in the lead for the next play, and so on until all the cards have been played. Then the count is scored for game. The game may be set at one hundred and eighty (180) or two hundred and fifty (250) at will of the participants in the game. When a trump is made known by the highest bidder, he and partner must make a scoring count to equal that of bid or else forfeit that amount from previous game score, or if there be no game score they will owe that amount, which must be paid. If a misdeal should be made by accident or otherwise, the cards shall be passed to next player to deal, he'thereby forfeiting his right to deal until the deal goes around and back to him. Then he may have equal rights, as before. Slipping a card from the pack is a misdemeanor that is not in keeping with good social culture. Each leading card of a trick must be followed in suit, if possible, unless players choose to play a trump-card.

In playing single-handed by two or three the game may be conducted in like manner to that of playing partners, only that each one must depend entirely on his own hand when bidding for the lead or trump, while in four-handed games the bidder can depend on his partners hand to a certain degree, providing the bidder should hold high-scoring and superior cards. In single-handed game the game-score may be put at one hundred and fifty, making it possible to playa game in two deals.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

A pack of playing-cards made up of three suits of three groups each, each suit representing a country and comprising a group of consecutively numbered similar cards, a second group of cards of different values, said values being indicated by pictures on the cards, and a third group of consecutivelynumbered cards bearing similar pictures thereon. V

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

BIRD H. SHARP.

Witnesses:

W. O. GUNLocK, A. G. THURMOND. 

